Decoy-duck.



' PATENTED JAN. 6, L903.

v F. H. YORKE.

DEGOY DUCK.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 29, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

WE imam UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. useful Decoy-Duck, of which the following is duck.

. verse sectional view taken approximately on DECOY- DUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent No. 717,790, dated January 6, 1903.

Application filed March 29, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK HENRY YORKE, a citizen of the United States, resid ing at Fooslaud, in the county of Ohampaign and State of Illinois, have invented a new and a specification.

This invention relates generally to decoyducks, and more particularly to the manner of connecting the head to the body of the The object of the invention is to provide a duck having a movable or swinging head which rocks or nods in simulation of the rocking and nodding motion of the water-fowl.

Another object of the invention is to provide a regulating means whereby the intensity of the rocking or nodding motion can be regulated according to the character of the weather to which the decoy is to be exposed.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination, all of which will be fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view illustrating a decoy constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 isa vertical longitudinal sectional View of a duck constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 3 is a transthe line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a detail lon gitudinal section showing the position the parts assume during the rocking or nodding motion of the head. Fig. 5 shows a slight modification. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of such modification.

In constructing a decoy in accordance with my invention I employ a solid body portion A, to which is attached the hollow breast portion B, which breast portion may be constructed of metal or any other suitable material connected to the body portion in any suitable manner, and it will of course be understood that both the body and breast portion are bent or otherwise made to represent the ordinary duck. The breast portion B terminates in a neck portion 0, the top of which is concave and slotted longitudinally, as shown at G. The head I) has a hollow front portion E attached thereto, said front portion Serial No. 100,603. (No modeLl being shaped to fit into the concavity of the neck portion and also is slotted longitudinally, asshown at EC 2 A rod F is secured at its upper end within the head of the decoy and at its lower end carries a weight G, said rod and weight serving as a pendulum, the rod passing through the longitudinal slots 0 and E, thereby causing the head to rock or nod up and down, the front portion of the head turning in the concavity of the neck, as most clearly shown. The bill D of the head is hollowed out upon the under side, as shown at D for the purpose of catching the wind or current of air sweeping over the surface of the water, and thereby causing the head of the decoy to rock more readily. The motion of the waves which rock the body will also cause the head to rock, owing to the pendulum-like action of the rod and weight.

In order to regulate the tension between the front and neck portion, so that the motion of the head can be made to accommodate itself according to the weather, I employ a ball H, which is contained within the front portion and through which the rod passes, and by turning the rod so as to force the ball downwardly thereon the throat portion is expanded slightly, thereby increasing the friction between the throat and neck portion, whereby the rocking motion of the head is partially retarded. This adjustment is made whenever the decoy is to be exposed to stormy weather in order to avoid violent motion of the head. Whenever the decoy is to be exposed upon a protected surface, the hall is elevated, reducing the friction and permitting'the head to rock or nod readily.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a slight modification in which the lower end of the head and the upper end of the neck or body are concaved, as shown at I and K, respectively, and between such concaved portions is arranged a ball L, the said neck and body portions being connected by means of plates M, said plates being rigidly secured to the body portion, as-most clearly shown, and the head being pivotally connected to said plates, so that the'rocking motion is capable.

A collar N is attached to the head portion and overlaps the joint and prevents the entrance of water between the neck and head portions.

It will thus be seen that I provide an exceedingly cheap, simple, and efficient construction of decoy which will have a thoroughly natural modification of the head, and it will also be noted that the connecting parts can be so regulated as to make the modifications of the head natural under all conditions of weather.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A decoy-duck having a vertically-movable head connected thereto, and a weighted rod attached to the head and extending into the body of the decoy, said head being hollowed out at one side for the purpose of catching the wind.

2. A decoy comprisinga body, the forward end of which is hollow, the head having a depending rod carrying a weight at its lower end, said weight being located in the hollow portion of the body, and the friction device arranged upon the rod for the purpose of regulating the motion of the head, as specified. 3. A decoy comprising a body, the forward ,portion of which is hollow and terminating in a neck portion, the upper end of which is concaved and slotted longitudinally, a head having a throat portion attached thereto, a ball contained within the said throat portion, and an adjustable threaded rod passing into the head through the ball and having a weight at its lower end, substantially as described.

FREDERICK HENRY YORKE.

Witnesses:

J. H. YOUNG, SAMUEL MCKINNEY. 

